Friday, January 27, 2012

Recreating the Role of Matt Foley

A couple of years for the Bishopric's skit at Young Women's Camp I
recreated the role of Matt Foley. The year before was probably better,
as the entire skit was based on Matt Foley. This skit starts half way
was we were singing YMCA to begin with. This is also a platform for me
to make a fool of myself in front of my daughter. I guess that is OK as
it is all in fun. I'm glad someone put it on You Tube to share.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMHo66qRLDs

I took Latin American Literature from Jaime Cantarovici at Utah State. It was really an enjoyable class. One which the professor really loved, and tried to instill that love in us as students. If I remember it was also in two parts, covering a couple trimesters.

(This translation is not mine, mine in brackets)
Give your hand and we'll be dancing; (we will dance)
Give your hand and you will love me.
Like a single flower we will be
Like a single flower, and nothing more.

The same verse we'll be singing,
With the same beat you'll be dancing.
Like a spike we'll be waving, (Like a wheat stalk we'll be waving in the wind)
Like a spike (wheat stalk), and nothing more.

Your name is Rosa (Rose)and my name is Esperanza*; (Hope)
But your name you'll forget,
Because we'll be a dance
On the hill, and nothing more.

Another one of my favorite, because of the way it sounds is "La Duquesa Job"

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I understand the author recently passed away. I heard him recite this on BYUTV. May my love for Sheri be equal to that of the goose.

Hudson's Geese

Hudson tells us of them,
the two migrating geese,
she hurt in the wing
indomitably walking
the length of a continent,
and he wheeling above
calling his distress.
They could not have lived.
Already I see her wing
scraped past the bone
as she drags it through rubble.
A fox, maybe, took her
in his snap jaws. And what
would he do, the point
of his circling gone?
The wilderness of his cry
falling through an air
turned instantly to winter
would warn the guns of him.
If a fowler dropped him,
let it have been quick,
pellets hitting brain
and heart so his weight
came down senseless,
and nothing but his body
to enter the dog's mouth. — Leslie Norris

I think this is the social worker in me that likes this poem. I came across it while participating with a community group looking at teen pregnancy in Roosevelt, Utah.

A Fence or an
Ambulance

[A poetic case for the value of
prevention]

'Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant;
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke and full many a peasant.
So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally;
Some said, "Put a fence 'round the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through the neighboring city;
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became full of pity
For those who slipped over the dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers in highway and alley
Gave pounds and gave pence, not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

"For the cliff is all right, if you're careful," they said,
"And, if folks even slip and are dropping,
It isn't the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below when they're stopping."
So day after day, as these mishaps occurred,
Quick forth would those rescuers sally
To pick up the victims who fell off the cliff,
With their ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked: "It's a marvel to me
That people give far more attention
To repairing results than to stopping the cause,
When they'd much better aim at prevention.
Let us stop at its source all this mischief," cried he,
"Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally;
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley."

"Oh he's a fanatic," the others rejoined,
"Dispense with the ambulance? Never!
He'd dispense with all charities, too, if he could;
No! No! We'll support them forever.
Aren't we picking up folks just as fast as they fall?
And shall this man dictate to us? Shall he?
Why should people of sense stop to put up a fence,
While the ambulance works in the valley?"

But the sensible few, who are practical too,
Will not bear with such nonsense much longer;
They believe that prevention is better than cure,
And their party will soon be the stronger.
Encourage them then, with your purse, voice, and pen,
And while other philanthropists dally,
They will scorn all pretense, and put up a stout fence
On the cliff that hangs over the valley.

Better guide well the young than reclaim them when old,
For the voice of true wisdom is calling.
"To rescue the fallen is good, but 'tis best
To prevent other people from falling."
Better close up the source of temptation and crime
Than deliver from dungeon or galley;
Better put a strong fence 'round the top of the cliff
Than an ambulance down in the valley.

Monday, January 2, 2012

These pictures Miranda scanned t the computer so we could compare Elliott to other baby pictures to see who he most looks like. Everyone has to make their own judgement. But he does have a chin similar to all the kids. He has the Caleb, Mark Charity nose. He has Caleb, Miranda hairline. Mark had more hair. Maybe you can see other similarities.

About Me

We are the Wardles. I am Billy. We are the parents of 8, one in Heaven
(stillborn,) 6 birth and 1 adopted. Four are away from home, two
daughters married and two sons in the Logan area going to school. Tony,
our adopted son is 11 years younger than our youngest birth child, so
he is greatly spoiled. I have worked for the Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Utah State Social Services, part of the time working with the Ute Tribe, Uintah Basin Counseling and Santa Clara County Mental Health for the last 21 years. Active Mormon and I follow the prophet.